What fossils to find

From the Chalk, Echinoid's can often be collected by simply picking them up from the foreshore, there is a quite a variety of species, the most common being Holasters. White Nothe is also well known for giant Ammonites which are surprisingly well preserved. Many Brachiopods and Bivalves can also be found along with sea Urchin Spines and Crinoids Peace's.

From the Greensand, rich well preserved brachiopod and bivalve beds give a wide variety of species, Gastropods can also be collected, when the Greensand is freshly exposed on the foreshore, it is as soft as that of the Gault, but exposure to air turns it rock hard. During scouring tides, many very good molluscs can be collected in near perfect condition.

Where to look for fossils

The wide range of the Cretaceous formation gives a variety of fossils to find. The Upper Greensand is rich with the ammonite fauna from the Dispar Zone. This is just below the base of the chalk. The Basal Cenomanian, especially the blocks on the foreshore, is often crowded with the echinoid Holaster along with Ammonites and other fossils.

There is a wide range of fossils from the upper, middle and lower chalk, though the best sections can only be accessed by boat. Because the beds are vertical, the formations change and zones are limited in size. You never know what you are going to find at White Nothe due to the faults of Holworth House.

Looking for fossils at White Nothe

Looking for echinoids